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Thread: Trolling with outboards????

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Default Trolling with outboards????


    what do you guys use for trolling for crappie???? Electric trolling motors? or gas?

    if gas what size HP do you use?(2stroke? 4 stroke?)

    i'm wondering how good some of the larger etechs or 4strokes do. I'll probably put a 60-75hp on my 18' grizzly one day. I have a 6hp 2 stroke rude to use for trolling at the moment.
    a dealer told me there yamaha 4 stroke in a 60hp trolled great and wasn't bad on gas mileage and isn't hard on engine . don't know whether to believe him or not.

  2. #2
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    Jun 2005
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    North-East Mississippi
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    I've used a 50 Honda with the idle speed adjusted way low on a 1852 jon, and Yammy 90 4 stroke with the variable trolling speed all the way down on boat I've got
    now - both went too fast without some help, either trolling plate or dragging
    socks. Worked ok, but finally ended up with 8 horse 4 stroke kicker.

    Oil changes came around a little too soon to suit me trolling with the big motor. The Honda wasn't as bad at 2 qts, but the dang Yammy holds 4.5
    Shoals Area Crappie Association

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    i use both elect and gas to troll with....do better with 30 lb elect....have a new 9.8 nissan 4 stroke that does well also......when battery gets low fire up the gas motor.....

  4. #4
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    Sep 2008
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    Cartersville
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    The Etecs will troll fairly well.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    Olive Branch, MS
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    I prefer the peace and quiet of trolling with my trolling motor that has an A/P but I am prepared to use the big motor in a pinch. Like Jwhite, my 90 Merc 2-stroke needs a little help to get down to 1.7 or so. I have tried several trolling plates but ended up using a 48" Cabela's driftsock instead. That sucker will let me creep along even in a decent wind.
    Last edited by yikess; 01-06-2009 at 11:16 PM.
    PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM TWEENER!
    Member of Tri-State Crappie Anglers


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    Rome,Ga.
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    I troll with my minn kota elec. I hooked up a speed wheel on the back of my boat and hooked to my fish finder. At 5 speeds I have 5 different m.p.h. choices. I dont know why but I never catch fish on the same trolling speed.Its different from day to day.
    Good,Fast,Cheap>Pick one!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    york county sc
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    back before the advent to energy efficent electrics, just about everyone i knew, including myself, used gas engines. however you couldnt use the big motor for crappie trolling as it pushed the boat too fast at idle speed . i used a little 2&1/2 hp johnson kicker, and even that, on a 14 ft alumacraft pushed the boat too fast at idle speed. the only way i could get it slow enough for long line trolling was to grind the prop off till it pushed the boat at the speed i wanted at a little above idle. when i bought the sea ark the johnsons shaft was too short and i never bought another troller. i did use a friends honda some, but never could get the sea arks speed adjusted to where i wanted it. the honda was a 4 stroke and would never idle good, especially for hours at a time so i quit trolling for the most part. i dont know how fast i was going back then as we had no way to measure our speed, but it was s -l - o - w...
    listen with your eyes---its the only way to beleive what you hear...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Prosperity,SC
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    Default Speed is the key.

    When Trolling, speed is the most important part of it!!!!!! Fine adjustability is the key to put the jig at the depth you want it. I use a MK Powerdrive V2 with AP and a speed sensor mounted on my trolling motor connected to my depthfinder. With this I can make slight adjustment in hundredths MPH. I know a .10 mph can make a difference in 1.5 ft pulling 1/16 oz. jig with my setup. I use mostly 1/16 oz. jigs with 45 ft. of line out.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Gray, Georgia
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    Minn Kota electric. .4 to 1.2 mph. Quiet and Peaceful. I use 1/32ths most of the time. Sometimes 1/24 & 1/16.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Hayden, Idaho
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    I use my electric motor as long as there is no wind. If its windy I have a 2.5 HP Suzuki four stroke that works well. These are on an 18' John boat.

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